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Female health problems that may be caused by workplace reproductive hazards

Disruption of the menstrual cycle and hormone production

High levels of physical or emotional stress or exposure to chemicals such as pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organic solvents and carbon disulfide, may disrupt the balance between the brain, pituitary gland, and ovaries. This disruption can result in an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone, and lead to changes in menstrual cycle length and regularity and ovulation. Learn more about the female reproductive system to better understand why this is important.

Infertility and subfertility

About 10% to 15% of all couples are infertile or have subfertility, which means that they are unable to conceive a child after 1 year of trying to become pregnant. Many factors can affect fertility, and these factors can affect one or both partners. More common causes of infertility include:

Damage to the woman’s eggs

Damage to the man’s sperm

A change in the hormones needed to regulate the normal menstrual cycle and uterine growth

Other health problems

Even if you are not concerned about having menstrual cycles or are not trying to get pregnant, your general health can be harmed by reproductive hazards that alter the production of your sex hormones. These sex hormones have effects throughout a woman’s body. Some workplace exposures can cause an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone levels in your blood. This disruption can also leave you more vulnerable to:

Personal factors, like your age, stage of menstrual cycle, stage of pregnancy or when you are exposed

For example, exposure to a hazard could block ovulation and pregnancy only at specific times of the menstrual cycle. Exposure during the first 3 months of pregnancy might cause a birth defect or a miscarriage. Exposure during the last 6 months of pregnancy could slow the baby’s growth, affect its brain development, or cause premature labor.